News Comment/COMENTARI AL DIA

Independence without Corruption/INDEPENDÈNCIA SENSE CORRUPTES

Independence without Corruption

by Josep C. Verges

Inauguration in Acapulco of Hotel Encanto (Delight) of the delightful Jordi Pujol jr. (extreme right) with his parents. His daughter Merce has just married Ignacio Garcia de Quevedo, the third fortune in Mexico, all made too thanks to politics. Below: Queues in Gaudi’s Casa Batllo.

How can a country progress ruled by corruption? Is the crisis just bad luck and countries without just have better opportunities? Or is it that they don’t have corrupt politicians? Look at the disaster of Greece. The same disaster that Madrid will experience when it can no longer live from Catalan gold, and the same disaster that Catalonia will be without a Spring cleaning of Catalan politics. The President of the Catalan government Artur Mas should be deeply ashamed to go hand in hand with the corrupt presumed innocent Duran Lleida. Why has he not banned the entire Pujol family, starting with the Prince of Wales Oriol, until they declare where and how they have all become billionaires? Politics is not there to become rich, but to serve the people, who want to be free without being exploited by Madrid or by corrupt politicians.

In Barcelona it is a surprise to see the huge queues in front of Gaudi, an architect despised by progressives for anti-rationalist, that is contrary to the straight line into the future. I also visited a modernist building, but not by Gaudi and therefore without the gawking tourists. It is even more beautiful inside, restored by its owner, La Caixa. I was seeing my lawyer who does not discuss the Modern Style but modern events without prompting by me: “I have 51 employees and 47 will vote for independence!” He says this surprised because the Law is the most reactionary field in Catalonia where Justice still speaks Spanish. With Franco the Law seemed somewhat independent, but now it is the legal arm of centralism. The 600 municipalities that have held consultative referendums on independence are grouped in the Municipal Association for Independence led by the Mayor of Vic Vila d’Abadal. The Christian Democrat, who follows in the footsteps of the party founder killed by Franco Carrasco Formiguera, has been boycotted by the collaborator Duran Lleida and cannot stand for the constituent elections on 25 November. Independence is bad business for the CiU spokesman in Madrid. The municipal referendums reflected the same 90% in favor of independence that my lawyer has found in his office. Madrid’s centralist policies of plundering the Catalan colony and suppressing democracy will only reaffirm this massive percentage in favour of freedom. Given the inevitability the next question is what happens the day after. Catalan and Spanish politics are in the hands of the corrupt. How can Catalonia and Spain ever get ahead in the hands of the corrupt? Do Switzerland, Sweden or Germany have a crisis? Why did Madrid waste our taxes, and go begging to Europe, to save the PP banks Bankia and Banco de Valencia and the socialist Catalunya Caixa? Don’t we have well-run banks like Catalan La Caixa, Basque BBVA and Cantabrian Santander? None from Madrid by the way. Why does Madrid mess up the financial sector in order to save the investments of corrupt PP and socialists? My lawyer was worried: “Not a day passes without a client calling on behalf of a Pujol son or Felip Puig. And who cares I say? There is a frightening level of corruption in Catalonia, and it will be worse tomorrow!” I replied:” My dream is to see the end of corruption but I will more easily see independence.” Gaudi has left us these Modern Style gems which we can show off but he died a pauper run over by a tram. What will be left by the corrupt politicians who enrich themselves shamelesly on the wealth of the Catalans?

The Horse that the Prime Minister now admits to riding galloped around in the middle of riots and pranced down the Mall on countless meaningless state occasions. And then just when the Horse thinks of putting its hooves up –wham, pensioned off to Rebekah Brooks of the Sun. Paparazzi lurking in every bush, waiting to record every misstep and broken stride. One wrong move and the editor of Britain’s best-selling newspaper is sent sprawling into a Cotswolds briar bush. Or the next Prime Minister. Or, God forbid, Rupert Murdoch. Send him flying and wake up with your own head next to you. David Cameron in jodpurs, hacking jacket and riding helmet, galloping along, explaining to Mrs Brooks how “We’re all in this together” would be his election slogan. Downing Street’s Keystone Kops efforts at suppressing by prevaricating, obfuscating and giving the general impression the Prime Minister has a nice little sideline in steed rustling. First there was no comment on whether David Cameron had ridden The Horse. Next we learnt he might have ridden The Horse. Then we were told he probably did ride The Horse. Finally he admitted he definitely did. This horseplay illustrates the ludicrous lengths politicians went to in their efforts to ingratiate themselves to senior media executives. David Cameron’s “man of the people” image may have taken a bit of knock. The media storm that is “Horsegate” shows no sign of abating. Forget Syria. Forget the economy. Just tell us more about the Horse.